Roommates (Klance College AU)

40

As Lance and Veronica strolled back towards the dorms, the casual ease between them made Lance feel as if they had never been apart. Veronica's presence had a way of grounding him, reminding him of who he was and what truly mattered.

By the time they reached the dorms, the sky was bathed in beautiful shades of pink and orange from the already setting sun. Veronica paused to look up at the radiant hues, her eyes reflecting the sunset's glow. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and melancholy.

Lance nodded, his gaze lingering not just on the sky but on her profile. "It reminds me of that summer at the lake," he replied, the memory surfacing effortlessly.

They stood there for a moment, lost in the past, until Veronica turned to face him fully. "I've missed this," she confessed, "just talking and sharing these quiet moments."

Lance smiled, his eyes reflecting the sunset's fading light. "Me too," he acknowledged, his voice filled with gratitude.

Veronica nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's easy to get caught up in everything else, isn't it? The rush of daily life, the constant moving forward. But stopping like this, it really puts things into perspective."

They resumed walking, their steps in sync as they approached the dormitory buildings. The campus was quiet, most students likely finishing up their day's obligations or getting ready for evening activities.

As they reached the entrance of Lance's dorm, he paused, turning to face her. "Hey, thanks for today," he said, his tone sincere. "I needed this more than I realized."

Veronica reached out, giving his arm a gentle squeeze. "Anytime, Lance. Remember, I'm just a call away, no matter how busy we get."

Lance nodded then chuckled. "I'll hold you to that. And maybe next time, I'll finally convert you to Team Sundae."

"Maybe," Veronica teased, her eyes twinkling with humor. "Or maybe you'll come to appreciate the subtle perfection of a cappuccino cone."

Lance chuckled as he opened the door to his dorm, inviting his older sister inside.

Keith was now sitting at their shared desk, his head buried in a text book, surrounded by few scattered papers and a half-drank coffee cup set to the side. His laptop was open to what appeared to be an educational video playing though his headphones that he was still wearing.

"Still studying hard?" Lance commented as he kicked his shoes off.

Keith didn't reply, probably because he hadn't heard him. Lance didn't question it, and just welcomed his sister into the room to sit alongside him on his bed in the small space.

Lance noticed the frustration painted on Keith's face and studied him for a moment. Acting on impulse, he leaned forward, extending himself in a big stretch to tilt his head in front of Keith's face. In the same motion, he tugged at one side of Keith's headphones. Keith, startled by the whole thing, jumped back with a yelp, almost knocking himself and all his things onto the floor.

Lance remained in his same awkward position, blinking a few times. He hadn't expected that reaction from Keith.

"Holy fuck– you scared me," Keith said as he collected himself.

"Uh... my bad." Lance repositioned himself respectfully on his bed.

"I didn't think you'd be back already," Keith said.

"We've been gone for a few hours man," Lance stated.

Keith looked over at the time on his laptop as he paused his video and pulled his headphones down and around his neck. He looked up and out the window in front of him. "Huh," he said. "It only felt like it's been a few minutes. Twenty at the most."

"Well how's the work coming?" Lance asked, resulting in a deep groan from Keith in response.

Keith hit his head down to the desk and covered the back of his head with his hands. "Horrible," he grumbled. "I can't even think right now. Like literally any question you throw at me, I won't know the answer."

Lance cackled at Keith sounding so sure of himself. "What's ten times three?"

Keith stared at him blankly, causing Lance to let out a snort. Veronica rolled her eyes at her brother as she tried to figure out how to give herself room into the conversation to not feel awkward.

"Jeez, Keith," Lance said. "It was just a joke, no need to look at me like that."

"I'm looking at you like that because I don't even know right now," Keith said seriously, causing Lance's laughter to immediately disintegrate.

"What?"

"My brain is so fried to even do the most basic thing. Like that simple math equation you just asked me," Keith explained.

"Do you think maybe you're overworking yourself?" Lance asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I know I am, but I can't afford any breaks," Keith snapped in frustration.

Keith's exasperated tone made Lance and Veronica exchange concerned glances. Veronica shifted slightly to make herself more comfortable on the cramped bed, her expression turning empathetic. "You might not think you can afford a break, but sometimes stepping back for even a little bit can help clear your head," she advised gently, her voice soothing. "You're more likely to make mistakes and get stuck if you're this stressed."

"Sometimes... a two steps forward," Lance said, trying to sound wise.

Keith cracked a smile, letting some small laughter escape past his lips. "Thanks Lance," he said sarcastically.

Veronica, who had been trying hard to contain her own laughter, back of her brother a few times.

"Hey, laughter is good medicine," Veronica said with a grin. "And seriously, Keith, it's okay to take a breather once in a while. You're not a machine, you know."

Keith sighed, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. It's just hard to stop when I feel like I'm falling behind."

Veronica nodded understandingly. "But burning out won't help anyone. Trust me, a little break can actually make you more productive in the long run."

Keith sighed. "I know that, but..." He paused. "I don't know, I just have too many things to focus on right now."

Veronica leaned closer, her voice firm yet gentle. "Prioritize, Keith."

Keith chuckled lightly. "I like her, man," he said to Lance.

Veronica elbowed her brother. "Told you I could charm him."

Lance grimaced. "You two are ridiculous," he said with a laugh, giving Veronica a playful push.

Veronica chuckled and attempted to give Lance a side hug, but he shoved her away.